what variety of hops to grow

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jeffersonjames

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I am looking to plant some hops this years and I am looking for in put on what kinds to get. I am new to brewing so my knowledge is limited on hops as I have not used many. I have noticed that many recipies call for cascade so I plan on planting more of that kind. I only plan to grow what I would need for my own brew so variety is more important than quantity. I have an acre so I imagine I could plant a good amount. Thanks
 
Grow what your recipes need or styles you like especially for aroma and start with a few plants.
 
jeffersonjames said:
I am looking to plant some hops this years and I am looking for in put on what kinds to get. I am new to brewing so my knowledge is limited on hops as I have not used many. I have noticed that many recipies call for cascade so I plan on planting more of that kind. I only plan to grow what I would need for my own brew so variety is more important than quantity. I have an acre so I imagine I could plant a good amount. Thanks
Click to expand...

Where are you? Grow hops that do well in your area, then learn how to brew beers to use them.
 
TyTanium said:
Where are you? Grow hops that do well in your area, then learn how to brew beers to use them.
Click to expand...

I live in upstate ny...from what I have read hops grow pretty well here. I did not really think about what types would grow better here. I will start with that to wittle the down.
 
Cool, well that's a good spot to start.

Generally the C hops grow well in most areas (Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Columbus). The noble varieties tend to be a bit more fickle and do better at more northern latitudes - not sure how your area is for them.
 
I was thinking about growing some hops ... too. I recently saw where More Beer is pre-selling rhizomes for this growing season. I live in Fort Mil, SC ... so I did a couple of Google searches .. and found a NC State University .. hop growing study. Raleigh, NC .. is several hundred miles from me .. but does have much the same climate as where I live. It looks like the only variety that produced for them .. was Cascade. I'm not sure how many seasons it took to get a substantial yield .. for homebrewing? I'm pretty sure it wasn't the first growing season. Looking at NC State .. charts and graphs ... the other varieties didn't do very well. I would look at it as a project .. that might not work out. If if did .. you could store hops in the freezer .. for when you needed them. I felt like ... I might get a couple of Cascade rhizomes .. and give it a try .. but would probably still be buying my hops from my ingredient supplier. I thought I might have some usable hops .. maybe the second year. I sort of put this project .. on the back burner. I would do some research first ... on what might grow in my area ... before I bought anything. More Beer .. says .. most of the varieties will grow in my area ... but the NC State study .. says otherwise. NC State is also .. not trying to sell hop rhizomes.
 
reelmower said:
I was thinking about growing some hops ... too. I recently saw where More Beer is pre-selling rhizomes for this growing season. I live in Fort Mil, SC ... so I did a couple of Google searches .. and found a NC State University .. hop growing study. Raleigh, NC .. is several hundred miles from me .. but does have much the same climate as where I live. It looks like the only variety that produced for them .. was Cascade. I'm not sure how many seasons it took to get a substantial yield .. for homebrewing? I'm pretty sure it wasn't the first growing season. Looking at NC State .. charts and graphs ... the other varieties didn't do very well. I would look at it as a project .. that might not work out. If if did .. you could store hops in the freezer .. for when you needed them. I felt like ... I might get a couple of Cascade rhizomes .. and give it a try .. but would probably still be buying my hops from my ingredient supplier. I thought I might have some usable hops .. maybe the second year. I sort of put this project .. on the back burner. I would do some research first ... on what might grow in my area ... before I bought anything. More Beer .. says .. most of the varieties will grow in my area ... but the NC State study .. says otherwise. NC State is also .. not trying to sell hop rhizomes.
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I will have to see if there has been studies for my area. As far as yields go im looking more for the year after as I plan to go all grain at that point. The fall of 14 will bring me to 3 years as a brewer and hopefully more experience.
 
Cascade is a safe bet. I am in eastern pa and those took off this year. The hallertau on the other hand got about a half ounce. Centennial is the other one I planted, it did ok but this is only the second year on all of them and I planted really late their first year.
 
I've grown them for a few years and am not a green thumb type.
I'm in TN and my Goldings did not enjoy the heat of summer :(
The Aphids love my Cascades as much as I do! and they grow 20+' !

I would think most varieties would do well in your area, but
I'm not an expert (mulch them well for wintering)

Although it would depend on what types of beer you like, the "C's" are always handy. (Cascades, Crystal) etc. and maybe Fuggles & Willamette for all that Ales you :p

I don't have a good way to assay their bitterness so I use mine for finishing/flavor/aroma only. I buy hops for bittering purposes, Lagers & specialties.

Good Luck!
 
Hopefully I'll be experimenting in Brooklyn, currently looking for a community garden in my area to get started.

If anything works out, I'll be sure to write about it for those interested in the NYC region, in a less than optimal location.

Edit: Thinking of starting with Willamette and Cascade.
 
After some research I learned that upstate ny was once tge top producer of hops in the world. The region is not too far from where I am now so perhaps I have a good chance of planting a few varieties and bring in a good harvest next year or the one after.
 
jeffersonjames said:
I live in upstate ny...from what I have read hops grow pretty well here. I did not really think about what types would grow better here. I will start with that to wittle the down.
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Check with NeHA...http://nehopalliance.org. They should be able to tell you what grows.

Otherwise, get a hold of Larry at Foothill Hops and tell him Dan from Gorst Valley sent you. If you have time, stop out to their place, look around and pick up some of their Spiced Northern Brown Malt and Hops Mustard. Soooooo good on pretzels.
 
GVH_Dan said:
Check with NeHA...http://nehopalliance.org. They should be able to tell you what grows.

Otherwise, get a hold of Larry at Foothill Hops and tell him Dan from Gorst Valley sent you. If you have time, stop out to their place, look around and pick up some of their Spiced Northern Brown Malt and Hops Mustard. Soooooo good on pretzels.
Click to expand...

Thanks...im only about 2hrs away so it could make a nice day trip in the spring.
 
Just call ahead to make sure they are open. They have a gift shop (with the mustard) but its not their full time job. So I don't know what the hours are.

If you've got a SWMBO, they used to have these awesome hop earrings that I got for mine. OK, I thought they were awesome...she just said, "Oh how...uhm...thanks."
 
GVH_Dan said:
Just call ahead to make sure they are open. They have a gift shop (with the mustard) but its not their full time job. So I don't know what the hours are.

If you've got a SWMBO, they used to have these awesome hop earrings that I got for mine. OK, I thought they were awesome...she just said, "Oh how...uhm...thanks."
Click to expand...
What does swmbo stand for...also I have seen a lot of BMC in reference to what I believe is domestic beer. The letters could be slightly off.
 
Boy, that's kind of like cheating. You need to learn the terminology the old fashioned way...searching. Just search on SWMBO and you'll figure it out. I'll give you a hint. The "S" stands for "she".
 
GVH_Dan said:
Boy, that's kind of like cheating. You need to learn the terminology the old fashioned way...searching. Just search on SWMBO and you'll figure it out. I'll give you a hint. The "S" stands for "she".
Click to expand...

I got...I suppose I did not think to google an acronym. Especially one so long.
 

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